The amphitheater is the quintessential venue for public celebrations in ancient Roman civilization. With its distinctive architecture, it is a circular or oval-shaped space enclosed by tiered seating constructed of arches and vaults, and a central arena where the performances took place.
The Roman Empire built amphitheaters all over the world during its expansion in antiquity, the most famous being the Colosseum in Rome. This civilization has left us a rich cultural heritage, with these spaces now dedicated to hosting a variety of public events. If you want to know what an amphitheater is and learn about its origins and history, stay with us to find out.
What is an amphitheatre?
The word “amphitheatre” has its etymological origin in the Greek word “amphithéatron,” where “amphi” means “both sides” and “teatron” means “place for viewing.” It is a space reserved for viewing events held there “from both sides” or “from all sides” due to its circular, oval, or similar shape.
The amphitheater thus originated in ancient Roman civilization as a public space intended for the celebration of shows and events, the most popular being gladiatorial combat, but it also hosted animal fights, public executions, and sporting activities, among others.
The amphitheaters were built by the Roman public administration and by private entities directed by the elites of the cities.
According to historical records, the first amphitheaters date back to the late 2nd century BC, although the precise date and exact location of the first true amphitheater ever built are unknown. The first amphitheater that can be reliably dated is the one in Pompeii, built around 75 BC.
The Romans built over 200 amphitheaters of all sizes throughout their empire during its expansion and period of rule , mostly in the west, as the eastern regions were occupied by Greek theaters and stadiums often used for public celebrations. During the empire's expansion, Roman army camps frequently had their own arena—usually constructed of wood—which they used for training and entertainment.
This architectural and cultural propagation is nothing more than the manifestation of the idiosyncrasies of Roman culture: if there is something that the Roman people liked, it was the show and the opportunity to attend incredible performances capable of triggering the most intense emotions.
The most famous amphitheater is the Colosseum in Rome, followed by the Verona Arena . However, other well-preserved amphitheaters exist, such as those in Arles, Burnum, Capua, El Djem, Fréjus, Nîmes, Leptis Magna, Pergamon, Pompeii, Pula, Salona, Tarragona, and Uthina, among many others. Around 75 amphitheater remains have been found worldwide, distributed throughout what was once part of the Roman Empire. Thus, we find a catalog of Roman amphitheaters in numerous countries, including Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, Austria, the United Kingdom, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.
Architectural features of the amphitheaters
The architecture of the amphitheaters responded to its raison d'être in terms of use and social class for which it was intended.
Its circular or oval shape allowed the spectacle to be viewed from any angle. The sand-covered ground in the center provided the perfect stage for the type of event held there. And the stands, known as the seating area or cavea , were divided into four sections according to the social class that occupied them: the lower section—closest to the stage—was occupied by the elite, senators, and high-ranking officials of the Roman administration; the middle section was for the plebeians; and the upper section—with the worst visibility—was for women and citizens without rights.
The first tiers of seating were built with carved stone , and later concrete was used, and arcades and vaults were added . Another characteristic of amphitheaters is their drainage system , which was particularly extensive in the larger ones.
The closed circle arrangement of space was the preferred architectural form of the Romans for their performances and evolved from the two-sided Greek stadiums and semicircular theaters of Ancient Greece.
It is important not to confuse the amphitheater with theaters or circuses, all of which were contemporary at the time. While the amphitheater is circular or oval in shape, classical Roman theaters are semicircular and circuses were elliptical in shape and used to stage racing shows.
The Colosseum in Rome and the Verona Arena are prime examples of the typical characteristics of a Roman amphitheater . The Roman Colosseum—whose original name was the Flavian Amphitheater —is the most famous and largest example, with an arena measuring 87,5 x 54,8 meters. It has 80 entrances and a capacity for at least 50.000 spectators. It also features an extensive drainage system, a characteristic also found in the Verona Amphitheater, where it is still functional and has contributed to the monument's excellent preservation. The Verona Arena measures 152 x 123 meters and was the third largest after the Colosseum and Capua. The lower arches lead to an interior passageway 4,4 meters wide that encircles the arena.
Events held in the amphitheaters
The Roman people's taste for spectacle created a whole entertainment industry of live performances that became a huge source of employment: from horse tamers to animal hunters, to musicians and sand rakers.
The promotion of these shows was led by the social elite of the time: magistrates who promoted public civic events, wealthy citizens, and emperors who would eventually monopolize control of the shows.
The tickets were probably free since the promoting elite were more interested in showing off their wealth and generosity than in using these events as a source of income.
Among the events celebrated in the Roman amphitheaters we find those that are described below.
Gladiator fight
It was the most popular and widespread spectacle in the ancient Roman Empire . It was a custom acquired from the Etruscan and Oscosamnite cultures, the origin of this tradition. Through combat competitions, gladiators demonstrated their strength and skill.
The one-on-one gladiator fight was one of the bloodiest spectacles held in the arena. With these celebrations it was intended to extol qualities such as courage, technical skill and celebrity of the participants. The exposure of one's life to the possibility of losing it - that is, death - was something that was most morbid for the public present there and that undoubtedly made these shows the favorite scenes for the Roman people.
City magistrates in ancient Rome were required to organize a gladiatorial show ( munera ) as a means of obtaining an office, and cities throughout the empire offered to organize local contests to show their solidarity with the customs of Rome and to celebrate notable events, such as an imperial visit or the birthday of an emperor.
Gladiator fights marked a milestone at the time, gaining great popularity, to the point where the winners of the battles became true legends around which their own fan clubs were forged.
Wild animal shows
In addition to gladiatorial contests, the arenas of the amphitheaters hosted shows featuring exotic animals brought from distant lands, which were captured and then displayed at the events. These animals could include lions, tigers, panthers, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and others, a spectacle that greatly appealed to audiences unaccustomed to seeing such creatures, as well as the thrill of the bloody fights between them.
During these events, underground mechanisms were used to make the animals appear unexpectedly in the arena. To give the scene greater realism, the arena was often landscaped with trees and rocks to resemble exotic locations.
mock sea battles
As a way of celebrating a Roman naval victory, the triumph scene was recreated through reenactments of real battles , which would be done as faithfully to reality as possible, even if that involved mortality.
public executions
In an autocratic society like ancient Rome, ethical codes were either nonexistent or, at best, severely lacking. Thus, public executions were carried out without any scruples, employing the most horrific methods . Often, criminals were executed in arenas by being exposed to wild animals that devoured them, or they were subjected to unequal combat with well-armed and experienced gladiators. The condemned were also sometimes forced to fight each other until they were severely wounded or dead.
Decline of the amphitheaters and their use today
The Roman Empire suffered its decline until its end. With the spread of Christianity, gladiatorial contests no longer fit the new mentality, and with the decline of the last Roman emperors, gladiatorial combat came to an end in 404 AD, along with the activity in the amphitheaters.
The history of the Colosseum is undoubtedly one of the most representative: converted into a fortress in the XNUMXth century, shaken by an earthquake in the XNUMXth century and used as a public quarry by Pope Alexander VI. Even so, the Colosseum and many other amphitheaters that have survived to the present day are today a magnificent cultural and architectural heritage from an era marked by the lights and shadows of the Roman world.
Many are well-preserved and have been restored to enhance their value and give them a second life, hosting various cultural events. Examples include the summer opera in Verona , the mock gladiatorial combats in Tarragona , and the world-renowned rock concerts in Arles .